Banchero on Magic's struggles: 'We've had trouble adjusting'

Paolo Banchero believes an inability to adjust is why the Orlando Magic are struggling this season after a promising 47-win campaign the year prior.

"It's a different year," Banchero told reporters Thursday after the Magic's 125-123 loss to the Chicago Bulls, including Josh Robbins of The Athletic. "It's almost the end of this season, so we're a different team.

"Teams, I think, are seeing what our weaknesses are, and they're attacking it, and we've had trouble adjusting."

Orlando's taken a step back offensively, dropping from 22nd to 28th in offensive efficiency and tallying 5.3 fewer points per 100 possessions. Injuries have certainly played a role, with core players Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs limited to 97 minutes together this season.

The Magic are also on pace to finish last in threes made (10.8 per game) for the second straight season. Free-agent signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hasn't provided the floor-spacing Orlando desired, connecting on a career-low 30.8% of his 3-point attempts.

Orlando shot just 9-of-33 from distance Thursday versus the Bulls. Banchero missed a wide-open three at the buzzer, dropping the Magic to 29-35 on the season. They've now lost five straight contests and seven of their last 10 overall.

"The message at the end was we've got to fight our way out of this funk," Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame. "That's exactly what it is. It's a funk, and we've got to fight our way out of it."